Social media chats have to observe law

AN ELDERLY COUPLE in Haidian district, Beijing, who were ridiculed by two other people in one of their chat groups because they grabbed e-hongbao, or red envelopes containing small amounts of cash, without immediately offering any in return, are taking the two who mocked them to court. The couple claim the two "friends" damaged their reputation in the chat group, and are asking for an apology along with compensation of 200 yuan ($30 dollars) from each. Haidian District People's Court has accepted the cases. Beijing Times said on Tuesday:

It is an illusion that the distance between people is eliminated by social media. Indeed, the virtual nature of bilateral exchanges can make it even more difficult to bridge misunderstandings.

In this instance, the two elderly people didn't know at first how to send the digital red envelopes, which caused others in the chat group to view them as "taking without giving", even though the old man gave out e-hongbao later.